Liquid-elevating apparatus.



E. OSULLWAN.

LIQUID ELEVATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 0018. 19:5.

1,299,? 1 D Patented June 12, 1917.

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EUGENE OSULLIVAN, OF SOUTH BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

' LIQUID-ELEVATING APPARATUS.

Application filed October 8, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE OSULLIVAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Bethlehem, in the county of Northampton and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Liquid-Elevating Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in liquid elevating apparatus, and resides more especially in the production of a vacuum system intercon nected with superimposed liquid stage levels for lifting the liquid and discharging it into the said levels or stages, from which latter it can be conducted and utilized as desired.

An object of the present invention is the production of a liquidelevating apparatus including in combinationa vacuum producing mechanism for lifting the liquid, the said mechanism being operated by any suitable form of power generator.

Another object of the present invention is to produce means for elevating liquids, comprising among other things superimposed and relatively staged liquid receiving and discharging reservoirs, each of which successively discharges into the next above, and all of which are interconnected with a common vacuum line, as will more fully hereinafter appear.

.A. further object of the invention is the production of a multistage liquid elevating apparatus :in which the liquid is lifted from the lower to the next upper liquid level or reservoir by means of a vacuum, and then discharged into the saidliquid level or reservoir by means of an auxiliary mechanism, such as a suitable force pump or the like.

A still further object of the present invention is to produce a liquid elevating apparatus in which the liquid elevated can be discharged from a predetermined height for producing power.

lVith these and other objects in view the invention further resides in the novel arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which show by way of illustration an embodiment of the improved liquid elevating apparatus,

Specification of Letters Patent.

llatented June 12, 191W.

Serial No. 54,732.

Figure l is a view in side elevation with parts broken away to more fully illustrate the construction.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view of a modified form of a vacuum creating nozzle or head through which the discharged liquid is directed to produce the same.

Fig. 3 is a detail illustration of a liquid discharging means preferably located in the discharge end of one of the liquid raising conduits, and includes a direct motor connection for the operation of the same, and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of another form of liquid discharging means, and more especially includes an auxiliary pump submerged in the liquid level or reservoir and adapted to circulate the liquid from the said reservoir through the discharge end of the lifting conduit.

Referring to the drawings, the liquid elevating apparatus comprises a series of superimposed liquid levels or reservoirs from the lowermost of which liquid is lifted successively to the uppermost level, from which predetermined height it is delivered through fall pipe 52 to its point or points of utilization. Independent liquid conveying conduits connect the SIlPOllIIlPOSOCl liquid levels, and another conduit common to all of the said independent conduits provided in which the vacuum created by a driven turbine is maintained. At the dis charge end of each independent lifting conduit a discharging means is provided, the purpose of which is to insure the discharge of the elevated water into the adjoining liquid level or reservoir against the head of water therein and the atmospheric pressure thereon This means is preferably driven by an electric motor, or any other suitable and improved means may be employed.

The construction of the apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawing comprises a frame structure formed of the uprights 1, and the braced transverse supporting beams 52. The liquid levels include a lower reservoir 3, and the three superimposed successive levels l, 5 and 6. While I have shown three stages into which the liquid can ,beelevated it .willbe understood that varying heights and the number of levels can be provided as occasions require. The lowermost level 3, while in the present instance comprising a tank or reservoir, may be any suitable body of liquid such as a river, creek, pool or the like. This level as shown is provided with an inlet 7 and an outlet 8, for filling and emptying the reser voir.

Extending from the lower liquid level 3 is a vertically arranged elevating and conveying conduit 9, provided near its lower end with a check valve 10', and a regulating valve 11. This conduit extends upwardly above the adjoining liquid level e, and is provided near the upper end with a communicating compartment 12 of an irregular contour. This compartment is adapted to convey the elevated liquid, and at its lower end discharge the same into the liquid level 4, as will be presently described. The contour of the compartment 12 is substantially elliptic, and is so designed to prevent the formation of air pockets therein, more especially at its juncture with the vertical conduit 9. Suitable flanges are provided on the sections of the compartment, and also the conduit 9, and adapted to facilitate the ready assembling of the apparatus.

The upper end of the vertical conduit 0 is bent and angular-1v disposed as indicated at 14, and communicates with a common vacuum conduit 15 as at 16'. An indicatii'ig gage 17 is provided near the upper end of the conduit 9 and is designed to register the level of the liquid in the conduit, and in so doing indicates the corresponding vacuum in the system. The line a-a constitutes the normal and operative level of the elevated liquid in the conduit 9. This level is preferably desired in order that the compartment 12 can receive and discharge the liquid under the most advantageous conditions.

The liquid discharging means is located in the discharge end of the compartment 12, and comprises a pump 18, through which the liquid is forced at a rapid rate into the liquid level 4. This pump is shown as driven by an electric motor 19 suitably supported upon the superstructure of the apparatus in any preferred manner. A belt or chain 20 transmits the power from the said motor to the pump. The discharge end 21 through which the liquid is forced is provided with a check valve 22, the purpose of which is to prevent the return of the head of water in the level or reservoir at. A regulating alve 23 also provided in the discharge end 21, and can be operated from above by means of the stem and wheel 24: as shown. This valve can be regulated to vary the amount of liquid discharged, or corn pletely close the discharge 21 as desired.

Extending from the liquid level 1 is another vertically arranged conduit 25, provided at its lower end with a check valve 26', and a regulating valve 27.

This conduit is similar in construction to the conduit 9, except that it may be of slightly less diameter, which, however, is not illustrated in the present embodiment of the invention. This conduit extends upwardly above the liquid stage or level 5 and discharges into it.

A compartment 28 communicates with the conduit near its upper end as shown, and is similar in shape to the substantially elliptic compartment'12. The upper end of the conduit 25 is bent and angularly disposed as at 29, and communicates with the common conduit 15 as at 30. A gage 31 is also provided near the upper end of the conduit 25 and indicates the water level and corresponding vacuum therein. Line .7)-b con stitutes the normal and operative level of the liquid in the apparatus under which the best results can be obtained.

In the discharge end of the compartment 28, the pump 32 is located. This pump is similar in construction to the pump 18, and is also driven by means of an electric motor through a belt or chain 3i.

In the discharge end 35 through which the liquid is forced into the liquid level or reservoir 5, a check valve 36 is provided, the purpose of which is to prevent the return or back flow of the water in the reservoir into the compartment 28. A suitable regulating valve 37 is also provided in this discharge end 35 and can be operated from above by means of the stern and wheel 38. As in the preceding instance the amount of liquid discharge can be regulated by the said valve.

The tuppermost liquid level 6 is connected to the preceding liquid level 5 by means of the conduit 41:0. This conduit is provided with a check valve 4-1, and regulating valve 412, and is similar in construction to the hereinbefore' described conduits 9 and 25, except that it may be of still smaller diameter than the conduit 25, not shown, however, in the drawings.

This conduit extends upwardly and discharges into the liquid level 6, and is provided near its upper end with a communicating compartment 43, which is of substantial elliptical contour, and in other respects similar to the compartments 12 and 28. gage 1% is provided near the upper end of the conduit 10 for indicating the liquid level and the corresponding vacuum.

The line cc indicates the normal liquid level under which the apparatus works best.

The upper end of the conduit 40 is bent and angularly disposed and extends downwardly formii'ig the vacuum conduit 15 which is common to all of the independent liquid elevating conduits 9, 25 and T0.

In the lower end of the compartment at?) the pump a5 is provided. This pump is preferably electric driven by a motor 46 through a belt or chain 47. The pump facilitates the discharge of the liquid through the discharge end 48, and into the upper level 6 as will be readily understood.

A check valve 49 is provided in the discharge end 48, and a regulating valve 50 is also provided. These valves operate as hereinbefore described in connection with the other liquid levels.

From the construction above described it will be seen that the liquid is elevated in stages by the use of a common vacuum conduit, and discharged through suitable means into the successive liquid levels.

From the uppermost level 6 the liquid is herein shown as discharging through a conical opening 51 and down through a fall pipe 52 to any suitable hydraulic device or point of utilization. The turbine 53 may be of any well known type driven from any source of power, (not shown,) and is designed to exhaust the air from the conduit 15, thereby creating a vacuum therein. The vacuum conduit 15 is connected to the turbine casing at 54 and is provided thereabove with a suitable manhole 55, a cook 56, and an indicating gage 57 all of well-known construction.

A valve 59 is provided in the liquid fall pipe 52, whereby the discharge can be regulated.

In order to start the apparatus,'there is provided a pump 60, by means of which liquid is initially supplied to the superimposed liquid levels. As each level is suiticiently supplied from the uppermost down,

the valves 61 are closed, as will be readily understood.

Having filled the system to the necessary starting levels the valve 59 is opened, the turbine 53, or its equivalent, is positively driven thereby exhausting air from conduit 15 creating the vacuum for elevating the liquid into independent conduits 9, 25 and 40. i

In the form of vacuum creating device shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the air is exhausted from the conduit 15 by means of the liquid forced therethrough under pressure. As shown, liquid from a source not shown discharges or falls through the end 62 of the fall pipe 82, and discharges into a curved spout 63. This spout is flared at its upper end as at 64 and spaced from the sides of a housing 65, whereby all of the air within the same can be exhausted. The vacuum conduit 15 communicates with the housing 65 at 66, and as the falling liquid rushes through the end 62 into the spout 63, the air is exhausted from the conduit 15, which is connected to the system as hereinbefore described.

In the form of liquid discharging means shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the electric motor 67 is directly connected by means of shafting 68 to the forcing member 69 of the pump. This affords a positive and practical construction for the operation of the dis charge of the liquid from the compartment communicating with the elevating conduit.

In Fig. 4 of the drawings another form of liquid discharging means is provided, comprising a submerged pump 70 operated by any preferred means, and adapted to circulate with increased rapidity a stream of liquid from the liquid level or reservoir through the discharge end of the compartment communicating with the elevating conduit. The intake of said pump is inclicated at 71, and the discharge therefrom through the discharge end of the compartment at 72.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying illustra tion, it will be obvious that an improved liquid elevating apparatus is provided capable of successively staging the liquid levels and ultimately utilizing the liquid, from a predetermined height, of the uppermost liquid level.

It will also be apparent that while I have shown single compartments 12, 28 and 13 connected to the respective conduits 9, 25 and 40, a greater number of such substantially elliptical compartments can be con nected to the said conduits for effecting an elevation of a greater quantity of water, or for use in cases of emergency as auxiliary elements.

Such compartments can be readily at tached to the connections indicated on the respective conduits and controlled by the valves 76. It will also be observed that an independent control of each such connected compartment can be had; and the same entirely cut out from the system when not desired, or when repairs are required.

The practical usefulness of such a plurality of compartments on each liquid level is obvious.

A further practical feature of the invention is the provision of suitable outlet valves positioned on the intermediate liquid levels for emptying the same when occasion requires.

In providing a vacuum producing device, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to each form herein shown, as any other suitable vacuum means can be employed. Such means may consist in the provision of an auxiliary vacuum producing means which can be readily connected to the main vacuum producing means, or a series of independent vacuum devices capable of being thrown into operation according to the requirements of the system.

And it is also quite obvious that the head of water in fall pipe 52, or its equivalent, will at all times be proportionate to the height and volume and consequently the weight of the column of water in said fall pipe, and that the power thus generated may be used for driving machinery, running dynamos, and for all purposes where ordinary motors or engines are applicable.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A liquid elevating apparatus including in combination multistage liquid levels, independent conduits communicating with each successive liquid level for conveying the liquid, means located in each of said conduits for forcing the liquid therefrom, another conduit connected to and communieating with the said independent conduits, and means including av vacuum producing device connected to the said last mentioned conduit, for raising the liquid to the successive levels.

2. A liquid elevating apparatus including in combination multistage superimposed liquid levels, independent conduits communicating with each successive liquid level for conveying the liquid, a chamber communicating with each independent conduit, means provided in each of the said chamhers for forcing the liquid therefrom, another conduit communicating with the said independent conduits, and means including a vacuum producing device connected to the said last mentioned conduit for raising the liquid to the successive levels.

3. A liquid elevating apparatus includ ing in combination superimposed liquid levels, independent conduits communicating with each successive liquid level for conveying the liquid, a chamber communicating with each independent conduit near the upper end thereof, means provided in the discharge end of said chamber including apump for forcing the liquid therefrom, another conduit communicating with the said independent conduits, and means including a vacuum producing device connected to the said last mentioned conduit for elevating the liquid to the next successive liquid level,

4:. A liquid elevating apparatus including in combination superimposed liquid levels, independent conduits communicating with each successive liquid level for conveying the liquid, a chamber communicating with each independent conduit near the upper end thereof, means provided in the dis charge end of said chan'iber comprising a. pump for forcing the liquid therefrom, and

.a. check valve for preventing the return 'of the liquid thereinto, another conduit communlcating wlth the said independent conduits, and means lncludmg a vacuum producing device connected to the said last mentioned conduit for elevating the liquid to the next successive liquid level.

5. A liquid elevating apparatus including in combination superimposed liquid levels, conduits connecting and communicating with the said superimposed liquid levels, the said conduits comprising vertixally arranged and valve-controlled passageways extending above the succeeding liquid level, a chamber communicating with each conduit near the upper end thereof, means provided in each of the chambers for forcing the liquid therefrom, another conduit communicating with the aforesaid conduits, and means including a vacuum producing device connected to the said last mentioned conduit for raising the liquid to the next successive liquid level.

6. A liquid elevating apparatus including in combination superimposed liquid levels, conduits communicating with the said levels for conveying the liquid suc cessively from one level to the next upper level, a chamber communicating with each of the said conduits near the upper end thereof, the said chamber comprising a substantially elliptical and angularly disposed compartment for receiving the liquid from the conduit and discharging it into the liquid level, means provided in the lower end of the chambers for forcing the liquid therefrom, another conduit communicating with the aforesaid conduits, and means including a vacuum producing device conneeted to the said last mentioned conduit for elevating the liquid in the aforesaid conduits.

7. A liquid elevating apparatus including in combination superimposed liquid levels, independent conduits communicating with each successive liquid level for conveying the liquid, a chamber communicating with each independent conduit near the upper end thereof, means provided in the discharge end of said chamber including a submerged liquid circulating pump for producing a rapid flow of water throi'igh the discharge end of the said chamber, another conduit communicating with the said independent conduits, and means including a vacuum producing device connected to the said last mentioned conduit for elevating the liquid to the next successive liquid level.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two subscribing witnesses. EUGENE OSULLIVAN. Witnesses:

THOMAS DURANT. In. E. Dyan.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing" the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 13.0. 

